Nov 13, 2014, 12:47 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Hi everyone,
Today MileagePlus updated the Premier qualification requirements for 2016.
Effective January 1, 2015, we are adjusting the PQD requirement for Premier status qualification for all Premier levels:
This change affects 2016 Premier status qualification which is based on 2015 flight activity. You can find more information about the updated requirements and PQD waivers by visiting this link.
We will communicate this information to members shortly.
-UA Insider
Today MileagePlus updated the Premier qualification requirements for 2016.
Effective January 1, 2015, we are adjusting the PQD requirement for Premier status qualification for all Premier levels:
- Silver: $3,000
- Gold: $6,000
- Platinum: $9,000
- 1K: $12,000
We will communicate this information to members shortly.
-UA Insider
Subject: Updated MileagePlus Premier requirements for 2016 status
"Our best customers come first"
"Customers who do more business with us should enjoy our best benefits.
Last year, we introduced Premier® qualifying dollars (PQD) so customers who spend more with us can enjoy more access to benefits like Premier upgrades, Economy Plus® seating and Premier Access®. On January 1, 2015, we will adjust our PQD requirement for 2016 Premier status."
Then the new chart with $3K, $6K, $9K, $12K
"The PQD requirement only applies to members who live in the U.S. and can be waived for members who hold a United® MileagePlus® Presidential PlusSM Card, or members who spend $25,000 or more in Net Purchases in 2015 on MileagePlus co-branded credit cards issued by Chase Bank, N.A.. The PQD waiver does not apply for Premier 1K® status."
From inquiry on why
.... over the years members have told us that they want to be recognized for how much they pay to fly those miles. This change also reflects a trend that has been emerging in loyalty programs across many industries and among our competitors. ...
MileagePlus® Service Center
MileagePlus® Service Center
2015 MileagePlus Change-PQD increased to $3k / $6k / $9k / $12k
Nov 15, 2014, 2:31 pm
#377
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
And that's exactly how they want the gpus to be spent, moving you with a smile on your face from seats they sometimes sell to seats they can't sell. What they don't want is low rollers like myself clogging up their bf oasis with my w class fares and barely adequate pqd.
Nov 15, 2014, 2:34 pm
#378
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
They are. Or, more pointedly, United is choosing to not reward them as much.
Indeed, you've shown them. By switching to another carrier which has virtually identical policies.
Indeed, you've shown them. By switching to another carrier which has virtually identical policies.
Nov 15, 2014, 2:34 pm
#379
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,852
The tweet appears to be pretty much just a shorted version from UA posted yesterday
There is support for this in many FT threads; too many elites, those paying for premium cabins wanted better and therefore few premium cabin seats (no 2-4-2), last minute HVF losing out to upgraders, .... While those may not be the opinions of all, there is no shortage of those feeling if all are elites, no one is an elite.
....
However, over the years members have told us that they want to be recognized for how much they pay to fly those miles. This change also reflects a trend that has been emerging in loyalty programs across many industries and among our competitors. ...
MileagePlus® Service Center
MileagePlus® Service Center
Nov 15, 2014, 2:45 pm
#380
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,594
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/inundate
It's generally not seen as a flattering description
I struggle to think of many companies who make a public statement that they are "inundated" with customers, in a negative sense
It's generally not seen as a flattering description
I struggle to think of many companies who make a public statement that they are "inundated" with customers, in a negative sense
Nov 15, 2014, 2:51 pm
#381
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
To be fair, after all the whining I might have done about the initial PQD requirement, it wound up making zero difference to my travel patterns--I never bought a more expensive fare thinking it would help, and I'll finish the year with a bigger surplus in PQDs than PQMs. But the communication of this has been lame, with zero attempt to offer any offsetting benefit.
(One thing the PQD requirement has been exceedingly effective at: Making it plain how much money I throw at this airline. Looking at that number can be embarrassing sometimes...)
(One thing the PQD requirement has been exceedingly effective at: Making it plain how much money I throw at this airline. Looking at that number can be embarrassing sometimes...)
Nov 15, 2014, 2:52 pm
#382
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 8_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/600.1.4 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/8.0 Mobile/12B411 Safari/600.1.4)
I think we all agree there are too many elites. The problem is, however, that their record doesn't match their rhetoric. If overall loyalty was of utmost importance, TODs would not exist.
I think we all agree there are too many elites. The problem is, however, that their record doesn't match their rhetoric. If overall loyalty was of utmost importance, TODs would not exist.
Nov 15, 2014, 2:58 pm
#383
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,686
While I realize they act as the face of UA on Twitter, I believe the people that work it are clerks. They may be in an official UA capacity on there but they (afaik) are far from the few people titled as "official UA spokespersons"
That said, when replying as "United" in a job function, tact is something to be practiced.
That said, when replying as "United" in a job function, tact is something to be practiced.
Last edited by fastair; Nov 15, 2014 at 4:31 pm Reason: Typo
Nov 15, 2014, 2:59 pm
#384
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
Nov 15, 2014, 3:03 pm
#385
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,135
To be fair, after all the whining I might have done about the initial PQD requirement, it wound up making zero difference to my travel patterns--I never bought a more expensive fare thinking it would help, and I'll finish the year with a bigger surplus in PQDs than PQMs. But the communication of this has been lame, with zero attempt to offer any offsetting benefit.
What that meant is that to hit PQD targets, I did buy discounted F a couple of times instead of discounted Y, but to be fair, had I flown my usual patterns, I'd have just flown more discounted Y and still made the PQD targets.
Next year will be interesting. I already have about $5k booked for the first half of the year, but all of that was before the announcement.
Nov 15, 2014, 3:03 pm
#386
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
Hmm. OK, re-reading your post, you would be including 2Ps and 1Ps as well, so technically millions could be affected by using waivers, but I doubt that even 1/4 of 2Ps & 1Ps can hit the CC spend. If 1/4th of your income was spent on MP CCs, and the waiver figure is $35,000... you're talking fairly elusive territory. I think.
Nov 15, 2014, 3:06 pm
#387
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
I agree with both you guys on this. I also fly UA and AA alot and it's more likely to see empty FC seats on AA, but there's not a lot to choose between them in terms of the flight experience.
Nov 15, 2014, 3:09 pm
#388
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
I guess when times are good one can afford to run an airline on OPM high "spenders" and once-a-year pay-per-bag kettles. Anyone in between doesnt matter.
At least they didnt take the Air Canada route where last month their FT rep stated that "we are not a chairty" and said that upgraded elites cheapen the front cabin @:-) It could be worse UA flyers :P
At least they didnt take the Air Canada route where last month their FT rep stated that "we are not a chairty" and said that upgraded elites cheapen the front cabin @:-) It could be worse UA flyers :P
Nov 15, 2014, 3:14 pm
#389
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
No proof, but I think there's more of those 1K than there are .05/mile 1Ks.
United is deciding that they don't want the expense of giving 1K benefits to somemone who flies over 100k a year but spends less than $12k doing it.
In fact, they probably like it much less for someone who flies 150k and is still under $12k as opposed to someone who flies 100k and comes up short - 50k more miles worth of 1K expenses for no more revenue.
Nov 15, 2014, 3:18 pm
#390
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Only then when no one will even pay TOD for it will it go into the bucket for free upgrade. We have a bunch of AA/DL this weekend, and its so weird to see the F cabin empty on the AA flights. They will not give it away for free, and I'm assuming that for these short 2hr hops, people don't want to use certs.